COMMUNITY VOICE Spring 2020 - Cornerstones of Care
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COMMUNITY VOICE We hired 339 new staff members last
year to meet the needs of children and
families in more communities!
Spring 2020
Embracing the New
A lot can happen in a year. Looking back on 2019, it’s been • 443 youth received treatment at Homeroom Health, our
mind-blowing to see how much change occurred in our medical, dental and behavioral health center for infants,
organization and neighborhoods. children, teens and young adults.
• 373 Missouri families received intensive in-home services
The year was marked by lots of “new” — new staff, and intensive family reunification services to stay together.
new programs, new communities, new families, new
• 117 Kansas families received family preservation services in
volunteers, new mentors and new donors. order to stay together.
Yet, much has stayed the same. We are still committed to • We received recertification as a trauma-informed
providing trauma-informed care to the children and families we organization through the Sanctuary Institute®.
serve. And, like every year, we are blown away by how much
you went above and beyond to support our work and care for
those in your backyard and across state lines. Because of your
Whenever you give of yourself — whether it be
generosity in 2019: financially, materially or by volunteering — you
• $550,000 was donated to our children and families through are joining thousands of others to make an impact
our partnership with the Super-Bowl-winning Chiefs at the greater than any one of us could make alone.
Chiefs Charity Game.
Those who received hope and healing through our programs
• 2,081 volunteers gave 7,778 hours of their time to our youth. last year did so directly because of your support. This year, we
commit to helping even more children and families overcome
• 1,600 foster homes opened their hearts and homes to
the impact of trauma. The need is still great, but together we
children in crisis.
can realize our mission of safer and healthier communities.
• 450 students received school supplies and 15 graduated
from our day treatment schools. See the full impact of your actions and contributions at
cornerstonesofcare.org/impact.
Letter from the CEO 2020 Governing Board
Denise Cross John Burgess (Board Chair)
Walsworth Publishing Company
We’re glad to have you by our side as we hit
Jon Appleby
the ground running in 2020. Your trust and
Citizens Bank & Trust
support in our growth is transforming more
Julie Barnett
lives than ever before. This year, we expect Cigna
to improve the safety and health of 15,000 Amy Bradshaw
children and families. Dipasquale Moore
Andrea Duckworth
Bluescope Steel
State Partnerships Resulted in 40 Percent Growth
In the last issue, I shared information about new signature programs. Each was made Derek Feagans
possible by the state of Kansas’ and the state of Missouri’s confidence in our team Feagans LLC
providing the best quality of care for children and families.
Jim Hogan
• On August 1, 2019, we expanded intensive in-home services (IIS) and intensive Burns & McDonnell
family reunification services (IFRS) to 48 counties across Missouri. We are now
Helen Jorski
partnering with an additional 750 families to keep children safely in their home.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
We’ve opened offices in Bowling Green, Columbia, St. Joseph and Warrensburg.
Thomas Kientz
• On October 1, 2019, we began providing foster care case management, reunification Academy Bank/Dickinson Financial
and adoption services to 1,139 children in Atchison, Leavenworth and Wyandotte
counties. Within the first 30 days of providing care, 57 percent of children were Stephanie Rawe
placed with safe relatives or family friends. This is 90 percent higher than the state Chinquapin Trust Company
average.
Lindsay Santee
• On January 1, 2020, we began providing family preservation services to families Populous
in 25 counties in eastern Kansas. Similar to IIS and IFRS, family preservation is an Jennifer Seyller
intensive in-home intervention to keep children from being placed in state custody. Hallmark Cards
Our team, with offices now in Hiawatha, Independence, Ottawa, Pittsburg and
Topeka, will serve 450 families in need over the next several years. Jody Vanarsdale
H&R Block
Final Year of Partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Hunt Rich Wood
Family Foundation Polsinelli
We couldn’t be more excited to cheer the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory!
The excitement doesn’t end there as we’re preparing for the final Chiefs Charity Game
benefiting our mission. Whether you join us at Trivia Night on June 19 at the Abbot,
sport your limited-edition Charlie Hustle shirt or become a corporate sponsor, you are 2020 Foundation Board
an important member on our team.
Johnny Orindgreff (Board Chair)
Visit chiefscharitygame.com to learn more or contact Chad Harris at Capital Portfolio Management, LLC
chad.harris@cornerstonesofcare.org to discuss joining the 2020 Chiefs Charity Game
Kate Allen
event committee.
Johnson County Community College
Seeking Board Members Dan Cranshaw
Polsinelli
Joining our Board of Directors is a significant opportunity to impact the communities in
which we work and live. We are seeking individuals who are interested in advancing our Phil Frerker
mission by serving on the Governing or Foundation Board of Directors. Hallmark Cards
Please feel free to contact me at denise.cross@cornerstonesofcare.org or Chad Harris at Kathleen Jackson
chad.harris@cornerstonesofcare.org to learn more. MarksNelson CPA
Steve Lawrence
Thank you for supporting our mission to improve the safety and health of children and Personal Financial Group
families in 2020 and beyond.
Joe Pribula
Wells Fargo Advisors
Latasha Wilson
Denise Cross Humana — Kindred at Home
President/CEO
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Lending a Hand
Our intrepid team of volunteers made sure More than 400 bags of gifts were donated
everyone’s gifts were wrapped. by Red Bags this year!
Families who shopped at our Gift Gallery chose quality, “We had a hard year with lots of unexpected difficulties.
brand-new holiday gifts for their loved ones free of charge. This is such a blessing!” —Gift Gallery Shoppers
With our expansion of services, we more than doubled the number of children and families who needed holiday support. When we
put out the call for help, wow, did you answer! Because of you, 1,342 youth received gifts through our Sponsor-a-Youth program
and 115 families received 2,000+ presents through the Gift Gallery. Plus, 165 of you volunteered to pull everything off. Thank you!
You can make a difference, too! Simply visit cornerstonesofcare.org/volunteer
to submit your volunteer interests and we’ll pair you up with the right activity.
Wish List
Physical safety is the first step to healing and overall health. When a child first comes
into our care, we ensure that they are physically safe and that they have the necessary
items to remain safe.
You can help keep our children and families safe by donating and
delivering one or more of the following items to any of our campuses.
• Full- and Travel-Sized Hygiene Supplies (shampoo, conditioner, liquid body wash, liquid
hand soap, deodorant, hair picks and feminine hygiene products)
• Bath Towels & Wash Cloths • Men’s Shirts and Sweatshirts (XL — 4XL)
• Men’s Boxer Briefs and Women’s Underwear (both S — XL) • 5-lb. Fire Extinguishers (required for foster care licensing)
• Men’s and Women’s Socks (both S — XL) • Carbon Monoxide Detectors (required for foster care licensing)
We respectfully request that all of the items be new. If you would like to donate used items for our benefit, please schedule a free
pick up with our thrift store partner, MAJ-R Thrift, at kcdonationpickup.org or deliver your used items to our Ozanam Campus.
To learn more, please contact Sally Cook at 816-508-3678 or sally.cook@cornerstonesofcare.org.
3
Winter Celebrations
Spirit Gala Committee Member Ashley Walchshauser & Natalie
Chef Michael Faust introduces his creation.
Gudenkauf strike a pose before the event.
Bob & Janet Velazquez and
and Board Member Tom & Danette Keintz
KC Ariel Art provides some spectacular dining entertainment.
take a break from bidding at the auction.
Who is behind those masks? It’s 2019 Spirit Award recipients
Calvin Arsinia performs, accompanied by Marshall Hylton.
Andrea & David Leavitt!
In November, more than 800 guests came together for the Cornerstones of Care Spirit Gala. Thanks to the support of presenting
sponsor Dynamic Fastener and all our sponsors, donors and volunteers, the event raised $404,000! We were thrilled to honor
2019 Spirit Award recipients Swiss Re and David & Andrea Leavitt for their work in advancing the safety and health of children and
families. We hope to see you at this year’s Roarin’ ‘20s Spirit Gala on November 6!
In January, 120 guests engaged all five of their senses at Savor the Sound, raising more than $35,000 for our Build Trybe program.
During the event, food, film, movement and music joined forces to give guests a completely immersive dining experience.
Where does your donation go? Schedule a campus tour to see your dollars in action —
you won’t be disappointed! Just contact Sally at sally.cook@cornerstonesofcare.org.
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Keeping Children Safe in Eastern Kansas
Family Preservation Services
Chronic stress, poverty, substance abuse, lack of healthcare and untreated trauma
are putting 117 of our Kansas families in crisis this year. The impact of those
situations often create an unsafe home for children, putting them at risk of being
separated from their family and placed into temporary state custody. Similar to our
intensive in-home services team in Missouri, our family preservation services team
in Kansas is dedicated to helping families stay safely together by identifying and
improving unsafe behaviors.
In partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, we began providing family
preservation services in 25 Kansas counties on January 1, 2020. We have opened offices in Hiawatha,
Independence, Ottawa, Pittsburg and Topeka to meet the need of each community.
Through trauma-informed intervention, we believe families can improve functioning and access community support, enabling them
to stay safely together. The program partners with the whole family in their home. Depending on the situation, families receive
intervention for six weeks or up to three months.
Learn more about family preservation services and other ways we’re growing at cornerstonesofcare.org/howweregrowing.
Did You Know ...
When Cornerstones of Care united as a single organization in 2017, its legacy agency foundations also came together?
Today, the Cornerstones of Care Foundation continues to support our mission through planned gifts from donors like you.
Contact Laurie at 816.508.3608 or laurie.minx@cornerstonesofcare.org to learn more.
Creating Trauma-Informed Homes
For anyone who has experienced trauma, environmental factors can be
fundamental in the healing journey as well as triggers for emotional pain. We all
want our homes to be warm and inviting. Here are three ways to make your home
more trauma-informed.
1. Rethink physical spaces. While you only have so much control over the number
of windows, room layout, etc. of your actual living area, you can create spaces
for developing deeper connections.
• Arrange living room furniture to face each other instead of the TV for easy
conversations.
• Remove/politely ban all technology from the dining room so everyone can focus on the meal and each other at dinnertime.
2. Normalize talking about feelings. Oftentimes, people who have experienced trauma bottle up their emotions to feel safe.
Because of this, they may need coaching and practice to learn it is okay to express their feelings through conversation.
• After hearing about a situation, incorporate feelings into the discussion by asking, “How did that make you feel?”
• Celebrate happy emotions, validate painful ones and talk about your own feelings and healthy reactions.
3. Model self-care. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to take of care anyone else — friend or family — for very
long.
• Find practices to help you manage your stress — exercise, reading, etc. — so you can create a therapeutic home environment.
• Help others in your life find self-care techniques that work for them. It shows them you think they are worthy of caring about.
Learn more about trauma and the Sanctuary Model® of trauma-informed care at cornerstonesofcare.org/traumainformed.
5
Fostering a Family
Lighting the Way for
Children and Families
Spotlighting Our Staff
Melissa Diddle,
intensive in-home
service specialist
The McKim Family Story
Josh and Angie McKim received a call that a set of 3-year-old
Melissa Diddle is one of our lead intensive in- twins were removed from their home due to neglect. The twins
home service (IIS) specialists. She and her team were nonverbal and developmentally delayed. Their mother, June*,
work hard to help families who are struggling struggled with alcoholism but was seeking help — she was motivated
to acquire the skills they need to parent to do what was necessary to achieve sobriety. As the McKims got to
successfully. An avid kayaker, Melissa loves to know June, they empathized with her challenges and welcomed her
spend as much time in the water as she can as part of their family, too.
when she’s not working.
Why did you decide to work with children “I think that, oftentimes, biological families have just
and families for a living? I have always had a gotten overwhelmed and given up,” Angie says. “While
passion for helping others be their best selves.
Working with children and families is just one there is always a reason for children to be removed, these
way I can do that and make a difference. families are in the greatest crisis of their lives. To be met
What is intensive in-home services (IIS) and
with judgment is not helpful to them.”
why is it important? IIS works with families
As June worked on her recovery, she became more involved in the
who are at risk of having their children placed
lives of her sons, the McKims and their biological children. June’s
in state custody by the Missouri Children’s
sisters, parents and grandparents also rallied around the boys,
Division. We work with the whole family to
lending their support and ensuring their familial ties stayed intact.
create safe and caring homes. Our goals are to
help them create change, learn new skills and
improve family functioning. IIS is important “Through this process, I have learned the stigma that
because we are allowed time to work with
families through their struggles and teach skills
biological parents must feel after losing their children,”
that they need to safely care for their children. Angie explains. “Showing them that they can do this —
they can have a positive relationship with the children
What do you wish people knew about the
families you work with? Our families are people and raise them — is half of the foster care journey. The
too. They are not just words on a page or one ultimate goal of every placement is reunification.”
person’s opinion. They have survived trauma
to get to where they are and do not always After two years with the McKims, the boys are back on track
have all the skills necessary to create a safe and developmentally and are as Angie describes, “chatterboxes.” Though
loving home for their children. Most families the original goal was reunification, June decided that asking the
are just looking for someone to listen without McKims to adopt the boys was the best choice. But June and her
judgment. family are still very much a part of the boys’ lives, and will continue to
be so even after the adoption is finalized.
What inspires you to keep going? Making a
difference, even a small one, in the lives of the
families I work with. “We are raising the twins as a team,” Angie says. “They
will live with us and take our last name but, in truth, we
Learn more about IIS and our intervention
services at cornerstonesofcare.org/intervention.
are inviting June into our extended family as well.”
If you want to join the McKims in keeping children safe and families
together, reach out to us at cornerstonesofcare.org/foster.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the parent.
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Helping Young Artists Find Their Voice
Youth who have experienced trauma often feel a sense of powerlessness
and have difficulty opening up about their experiences. One proven method
of helping children work through their trauma is music therapy.
“Data trends towards the benefit of music therapy as an inviting,
nonthreatening medium to explore feelings, thoughts and issues related
to abuse and neglect,” says Dr. Lanette Madison, Cornerstones of Care
regional director of Eastern Missouri. “It helps children in foster care find
the confidence within to give voice to their trauma and words to heal their
losses.”
We have provided music therapy in the Kansas City area for many years and
have seen the difference it makes in the lives of the children who receive
it. Nearly three years ago, we began talking with Music that RECLAIMS,
the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition and Midwest Music Therapy about
providing music therapy to the children in St. Louis. Through this joint partnership, we began offering this service in January 2019.
Thanks to those partners, Dr. Cynthia Briggs and those who gave during GiveSTLDay, we secured funding later in the year to build a
dedicated music therapy studio, which we finished in December. Located in the same building as our St. Louis office and designed
by V Three Studios, this beautifully painted, soundproof space features keyboards, guitars, drums and other instruments to allow an
easy entry point for youth at all skill levels.
We’re excited to open the program to serve more youth in the St. Louis area. Now any child in the Missouri
Department of Social Services is eligible for our music therapy services, regardless of their placement type.
Thank you to everyone who made this project a reality. We can’t wait to see more young lives transformed through the healing
power of music!
If you would like to learn about our work in St. Louis, visit cornerstonesofcare.org/stlouis.
Honors & Memorials
Memorial and honor giving has a lasting impact on the children and families we serve
by sustaining the long-term needs of our programs. You may remember a departed
friend or loved one, or honor a living individual or significant event, by sending a gift Celebrating
in their name via the enclosed envelope or at cornerstonesofcare.org/donate. Please
include contact information for those to be notified of your donation.
Successes
Building on the previous
In Memory Of Roy William Scheible In Honor Of year’s success, the
Donna Beemer Mrs. Barbara Scheible Scott Carleton 2019 Chiefs Charity
Mr. & Mrs. James Hadel Sue Tehel Anonymous
Game was a huge
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn E. Zumbehl Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ayers Kathy Couch win for our children
James A. Berg Mr. & Mrs. Jon Conrad Mr. & Mrs. James F. Muren
Mr. J. Robert Cook Mr. & Mrs. Meredith Cooper and families. Raising
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Dixon James Ferrell
Major Close Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Doyle Bloom & Blade, LLC $550,000, the 2019
Dr. & Mrs. Donald M. Lieberwitz Mr. & Mrs. Steve Gaunt Jeremy Hegle Chiefs Charity Game
Fred Dellett Gregg Smith Ford Lincoln Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Rob Dowis helped finalize the
Mrs. Judith Dellett Mr. & Mrs. Jerrall Hayes
Mr. Stephen Mills
J. Laubacher opening of Homeroom
Jacqueline A. McCoy Mr. & Mrs. John Laubacher
Heather L. McCoy
Ms. Arlen Mitchell Health, which began
Mr. & Mrs. Danny Morris Dr. James Maliszewski seeing clients last
Charles “C3” McDonald III Mr. & Mrs. Mark Panning Mr. & Mrs. Moulton Green
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. McDonald Ms. Aleta Russell August. It also funded
Lauren Muren
Patty Prouty Mr. & Mrs. Robert Salmon Mr. & Mrs. James F. Muren the modernization
Ms. Jill Allin Mr. Randy Schultz
Mr. Robert Thill Hank Parkman of facility safety and
Mr. & Mrs. Bob Bryon
Mr. John J. Prouty Ms. Vick Westlake Mr. & Mrs. John Laubacher security measures.
Mr. James Schultz Mr. & Mrs. Perry Wilmoth Teresa Wollen
Styles M. White Mr. & Mrs. James F. Muren
David Allen Scheible
Mrs. Barbara Scheible Mr. Richard White
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Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kansas City, MO
Permit #288
Return Service Requested
300 E 36th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
Partnering for safe and healthy communities.
• Education
• Mental & Behavioral Health
• Foster Care & Adoption
• Youth Support
• Family Support
• Community Training
1-844-824-8200
cornerstonesofcare.org
Thyme for Kids Upcoming 2020
Plant Sale
Benefitting CORNERSTONES
OF CARE
Fundraisers
EASTER EGG 5K & LIL’ BUNNY FUN RUN
April 11 at Southcreek Office Park
cornerstonesofcare.org/easteregg5k
THYME FOR KIDS PLANT SALE
The easiest way to positively impact thousands of lives is to join April 24 & 25 on our Ozanam Campus
us at an upcoming event. With your help, we can ensure children cornerstonesofcare.org/plantsale
and families are safe and healthy. CHIEFS CHARITY GAME TRIVIA NIGHT
June 19 at The Abbott
Join Us Don’t Forget chiefscharitygame.com
CHIEFS CHARITY GAME THYME FOR KIDS PLANT SALE CHIEFS CHARITY GAME
TRIVIA NIGHT April 24-25 on our Ozanam August (date to be announced in the spring)
June 19 at The Abbott Campus chiefscharitygame.com
Calling all trivia buffs — it’s time to Featuring a variety of herbs, plants DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT
put your skills to the test! Invite your and flowers grown by the children, September 19 at Thornfield Disc Golf Course
closest and most trivia-savvy friends the event is open to the public, cornerstonesofcare.org/disc
for an evening of food, friendly free to attend and most items only
competition and fun. Up for grabs? cost $2–$8. Proceeds support PIES FOR A PURPOSE
Drinks, door prizes and bragging our Build Trybe program, which October — December
rights, of course! Whether you want to empowers youth with employable cornerstonesofcare.org/pies
show off your skills or just relax, this skills in three career paths: culinary,
entertaining evening is right up your construction and horticulture. QUESTIONS?
alley! Contact Katie at 913.515.7951 or
Learn more by visiting katie.culbertson@cornerstonesofcare.org.
Visit chiefscharitygame.com. cornerstonesofcare.org/plantsale.
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